For Young Latinos, Student Loans Could Be Hot-Button Issue in 2016 Campaign

While Latinos acquire slightly less student-loan debt than their white counterparts, on average $49,700 as opposed to $54,000, this does not mean that they are in any better position when – or if – they finish school. Many Latinos opt to work through college instead of taking on a large debt burden, Maldonado said, and that leads to a longer amount of time spent in school and a lower chance of actually graduating.

According to statistics from the public policy organization Demos, 31 percent of Latino students drop out of college.